Egypt

Cairo Travel Guide

Cairo Travel Guide

Cairo is a messy, noisy delight of a city which
enchants visitors with its ancient treasures and challenges them
with its modern riotousness. The 'Mother of all Cities' is full of
great restaurants and thrilling archaeological sites; it is the
doorstep to one of the most intriguing tourist destinations in the
world.

Egypt is most renowned for its historical sightseeing, and Cairo
certainly doesn't disappoint in this regard: it is the city of the
pyramids, the sphinx, the Colossus of
Ramses II. The ancient Egyptians left their mark on this area
and their presence can still be felt. There is also more recent
history on show in Cairo and tourists should not limit themselves
to ancient relics: Old Cairo, also
called Coptic Cairo, is the meeting place of three religions and
boasts remarkable churches as well as synagogues and mosques; The
Hanging Church is a favourite with
visitors.

Cairo is well-situated for excursions to various ancient sites,
including the Western Desert Oases,
which offer visitors a taste of the immensity and beauty of the
Egyptian desert.

The city is bursting with people, colours, smells and tastes and
travellers will be thrilled by the experience of the Egyptian
markets and coffee houses, not to mention the mouth-watering array
of quality restaurants in Cairo. For
those keen to do a little late-night exploring the Cairo nightlife is also worth
investigating.

Best time to visit Cairo

Cairo is hot and dry all year and only has two seasons: a
swelteringly hot summer between May and October, and a mild winter
between November and April. The best time to visit is in the cooler
winter months when the heat is less overwhelming. The nights can
get cold in Cairo so visitors should bring something warmer for the
evenings. Read more on Cairo's Climate and Weather.

What to do in Cairo

-Take an excursion out to the ancient cities of Memphis and Saqqara to explore the temples
and museums.

Beyond Cairo

Cairo is often the starting point of an Egyptian holiday and is
a useful travel hub. Tourists can easily visit Alexandria on the
nearby Mediterranean coast, and the numerous Red Sea
resorts offer all the sun, sand and sea you can handle, as well as
world-class diving destinations. The
ancient treasures of cities like Aswan and Luxor are accessible on the famous
Nile River Cruises, which are a
popular way of exploring the country.

Getting there

Cairo International Airport, the biggest airport in Egypt, is
situated nine miles (15km) from Cairo. Flights to Cairo arrive from
major cities all over the world. It takes about 45 minutes to reach
central Cairo and visitors can take taxis, airport shuttle buses or
public buses to get there. It is also possible to hire a car and a
driver at the airport. Get more information on Cairo International Airport.

Did you know?

-Cairo is the second largest city in Africa.

-In Arabic Cairo is known as 'Al-Qahirah' which means 'The
Triumphant'.

-The Al-Azhar University of Cairo is thought to be the oldest
university in the world.

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